U.N. Solves North Korean Pollution Problem (Not)

In the hierarchy of problems in North Korea — every last one of which the U.N. is failing, abysmally, to address — I’m not sure that pollution by toxic chemicals ranks at the top of the list. On the other hand, I agree that it’s going to be one of the biggest post-reunification challenges. Cue quote from some U.N. wonk:

“The environment-related problems that exist in North Korea, I just have to say right now, I think they’re much more serious than in many other countries in the world,” Boljkevac said.

When you think about pollution in North Korea, think about the acres of abandoned factories along the beachfront in Chongjin, which make Love Canal look like an organic blueberry farm in Vermont. Click for full size:

Kinda like Detroit, right? Except without the EPA, and except that in Detroit, people probably aren’t using ponds and streams like the ones you see in these pictures for washing or (God forbid) cooking. You have to wonder how anyone is ever going to clean Chongjin up. Meanwhile the U.N. wags are in Pyongyang, which is probably far from the worst North Korea has to offer, environmentally speaking.

Boljkevac says North Korea is providing his teams with full access and cooperation. He says his job is made easier by the fact that none of the chemicals he is seeking to eliminate have anything to do with weapons production.

It’s always the same story with the U.N. and North Korea: only the woefully gullible need apply. I’m sure others can think of plenty of examples of dual-use facilities that are issuing forth rivers of methyl ethyl death, but the most obvious example that comes to my mind is the crumbling 5-megawatt nuclear reactor at Yongbyon, which North Korea used to make its nuclear bombs. If North Korea is giving Boljkevac full access to its nuclear facilities, then he’s managed to do what the International Atomic Energy Agency hasn’t since the last time North Korea kicked its inspectors out.